Srivilliputtur Arulmigu Nachiyar (Andal) Sametha Rangamannar Temple
Srivilliputhur Andal Temple in Srivilliputhur, a town in Virudhunagar district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is located 80 km from Madurai.
At a distance of 80 km from Madurai and 100 km from Tirunelveli, Srivilliputhur Andal Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated at Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district of Tamilnadu. This is one of the popular temples in Tamilnadu and also one of the 108 divya desams of Lord Vishnu. The 11 tier Raja gopuram is the tallest in Tamilnadu and is also the Emblem of Tamil Nadu Government.
This Temple has three temples
1 Andal janma isthalam
2 Nachiyar(Andal) Renganathar temple
3Vada Bhadra Sayana perumal
All are close by walkable distance.The gopuram is really Majestic. We can watch it without any time limit.Definiely worth a visit. Lot of shops selling palkova while entering temple.
Shri Andal Temple is very nice and well connected to lots of ancient history. Temple is so good and you can feel it there and Vadapathra Sai perumal, mirror house and the unusual space for Karudar and lot more. The place is located at the centre of the town and need a bit more maintenance and amenities for the pilgrims. Must visit place to get the blessings of Nachiar.
Srivilliputtur Arulmigu Andal temple, this place has lots of history with spritual beliefs. Lord naachiyar amma is been a great devotee of lord perumal since her childhood. Lord naachiyar father do flower maalai for God and ask her daughter to wear it to God, where naachiyar will put the maalai around her neck and then will do wear it to God. Upon seeing this her father was very much angry and upset. While asking the reason lord naachiyar expressed her extreme devotion of God and she was asked by God to be with her as her spouse. That turns human into lord.
One more Special on this temple is there is a well inside the temple, which was used by naachiyar after wearing the flower maalai. (Ancient day mirror)
Inside the temple on the first floor, YES!!! First floor you can have dharisanam of Aanatha sayana Permual..
The temple Tower (Koopuram) is the official symbol of tamilnadu state.
The temple has two divisions; the one of Andal located on the Southwest and the second one of Vatapatrasayi (Vishnu) on the Northeast direction. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines, the garden where Andal was found and two of its three bodies of water. The fish emblem of the Pandya dynasty can be seen in the ceiling and Mandapams. The Sukravara Kuradu bears the statues of Thirumalai Naicker, his brother Chokkappa Naicker and their wives.
The tall towers, massive car, huge tank, sculpted pillars, ancient Ramayana frescoes and modern wall paintings depicting the Lords of 108 Divyadesams, numerous inscriptions dating back to the rule of Pandya kings, fine rectangular hall with a wooden roof and above all its unique Thiruppavai Vimanam speak volumes of their rich architectural heritage.
Rajagopuram
The Rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower, 192 ft (59 m) tall. The tower is originally believed to have been built by Periyalwar with the prize money he obtained from religious debates in the court of Vallaba Pandya in Madurai. It has eleven stages. The Raja Gopuram is one of the tallest in Tamilnadu. The temple tower is 2nd only to Srirangam Temple Rajagopuram (236 ft) among the Divya Desams. It is also the Emblem of Tamil Nadu Government. The great poet Kamban has praises it in lofty terms and the poem finds a place in the Tower.
Vadabadrasayee Shrine:
The Temple is also called as Vada Perum Koil and Periya Perumal Koil. This is the Divyadesam Temple. The temple of Lord Vadabadrasayee is a two storied Maadakoil, with a large prakaram full of beautiful paintings and sculptures. A shrine for Lord Lakshmi Narasimha is on the ground floor. The idol is large and brightly painted. There are Shrines for 12 Alwars and Dasavatharam of Vishnu can be found in the ground floor.
The sanctum in the second level approached through a flight of steps houses the image of Vatapatrasayi facing east in a reclining posture and his consorts, Lakshmi (Sridevi) and Bhoodevi, are shown attending to him at his feet. Sage Bhrigu stands near his head and sage Markandeya is near his feet. The banyan tree whose leaf is known as Vatapatram, on which Vishnu is said to rest in the form of a baby during deluge, is at his head, behind Bhrigu.
The Lord’s image is a large and very colourful stucco image (made of brick and mortar), hence daily Thirumanjanam (sacred bath ) is not performed. Lord Vadabadrasayee was the Lord whom Periyalwar and Andal worshipped with such fervour. Images of Panchamurtis – Thumburu, Narada, Sanathkumara, Kinnara, Sun, Mithuna and Moon are present around the deity as well as representations of Villi and Puttan are seen at his feet.
The sanctum has three doorways from which the presiding deity can be seen. Also, on the first floor is a large rectangular hall with ornate woodwork on the walls. It is called Gopala Vilasam and it was built 200 years ago using wood panels from the temple car which was damaged. The intricate carvings on the wood panels depict scenes from the Ramayana and other puranas and scenes from the life of Andal.
It is here that the Araiyar Sevai is performed during the Pagal Pathu Utsavam. Vimana over the sanctum is called as Samsana Vimanam. Utsava Idols of Chakrathalvar, Kannan and Allal Thavirtha Piran Utsavars are found in the Artha Mandapam.
